Thermoforming equipment for the formation of metallic packages with pre-flap formation

ABSTRACT

It is understood as being preferably intended for the manufacture of cans through spinning, molding the can bodies in the most varied shapes, also enabling the attainment of deep necking or die-necking in the can bodies; it may be used for the several purposes, from food and beverage cans, to chemicals and others, and they may be manufactured in several materials such as tin foil, chromed sheet and black plate, using the spinning process molding the can bodies, being able to be used in several types of cans, from those which use metallic, plastic or mixed lids (compound plastic+metallic), clamped such as those using metallic, plastic or mixed (compound plastic+metallic) lid system and unclamped, provided with sealing gaskets and vacuum closure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/515,811, filed May 21, 2009, which is a 371 of PCT/BR2007/000153, filed Jun. 14, 2007, which claims the benefit of Brazilian Application No. PI 0702306-5, filed May 21, 2007, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

APPLICATION FIELD

This descriptive report refers to a SPINNING PROCESS FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING AND SPINNING EQUIPMENT FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING, which are intended more specifically, to the production of cans having multiple bodies' shapes also enabling the formation of a deep necking in their ends.

INVENTION SUMMARY

The SPINNING PROCESS FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING AND SPINNING EQUIPMENT FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING proposed hereby, may be used in the production of cans intended to multiple purposes, such as: food, beverages, chemicals and others, and it may use different materials, such as: tin plate, chromed sheets or black plate.

The SPINNING PROCESS FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING AND SPINNING EQUIPMENT FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING proposed hereby, may also be used in the production of cans which use metallic, plastic or mixed closure means, sealing gasket or also vacuum closure.

The SPINNING PROCESS FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING AND SPINNING EQUIPMENT FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING proposed hereby, enables the can body's pre-expansion allowing forming of a pre-flap previously to its expansion, while the equipment for its accomplishment makes feasible the use of the different expansion processes existing in the market, as it is able to neutralize the irregular loss effect of the can body's height as a function of its expansion, which harmed the flap formation, which being designed in an irregular form, used to exceed the tolerance measures, which consequently, would impair the forming of the bottom and the lid, compromising their tightness and hermetics, to the point of creating leaks.

The SPINNING PROCESS FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING AND SPINNING EQUIPMENT FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING proposed hereby, also enables the use of the can body spinning and molding device, object of the Patent BR PI 9905474-4 document, owned by Metalgrafica Rojek Ltda.

INVENTION BACKGROUND

Several types of processes to obtain expanded can bodies with or without necking of their ends, are already known by the state of the technology, such as for example, die-necking, spin-flow, stretching type processes and others; however, all processes presently used have, as the main nuisance, the non-optimization in the utilization of raw material, which creates an expressive material waste, due to the dimensions used in the can body's formation, and moreover, the usual processes also use an excessive number of processing stages, which requires the use of a larger number of machines, creating a higher quantity of scrap.

Also known to the state of technique are the processes which use jaws, rulers or tongs which are introduced in the can body, through cams, which expand it, until the desired shape is achieved, always with an increase of the initial can body diameter, aiming to increase the can volumetric capacity.

The deep necking processes are already known in the production of cans, aiming to achieve an area whose section, taken in the can body's radial direction, has a diameter smaller than the can body's nominal diameter, generally comprised close to its ends; that is, close to the lid or the bottom, which consists of, starting from the can body's nominal diameter, decreasing one of its ends, and this necking is accomplished with the intent of saving raw material in the lid or in the bottom, and also to make their stacking easier, being accomplished by half plugs process (die-necking), for small reductions, or by means of forming rollers process (spin-flow) for large reductions; however, one of the major nuisances of the cans with necking which use low thickness foils, is the occurrence of pinholes in the necking area, close to the can body welding, which compromises considerably the cans assembly line efficiency, as well as the metallic package image.

After performing the necking and the flaps the bottom are re-spiked and only after those operations, the can is expanded by the process of jaws, rulers or tongs, which are introduced in the can body through cams which expand until the desired shape is achieved; however, since the bottom has already been re-spiked, the expansion only occurs from the top of the can; that is, the can body's height is only decreased in its top, which causes the can internal varnish to become damaged, leaving the metal exposed, which shall interfere in the canned products quality, mainly foods.

When the can expansion occurs in the above mentioned processes, there is a reduction in the can body's height, and that reduction occurs in the two sides on an irregular basis, impairing the flap making and the can forming, jeopardizing the tightness and hermetics of the can, to the point of creating leaks.

The height decrease in an irregular form occurs for several reasons, such as: difference of hardness points of the plate making up the can body and the area in which it receives the electric welding, considering that the plate is less hard in the middle than it is the ends, and depending on the area used to form the can body, it may have different hardness points, which related to the area influenced by the welding, may turn the can body's ends totally irregular after its expansion.

Invention Principles

In order to overcome all nuisances from the techniques used, this SPINNING PROCESS FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING AND SPINNING EQUIPMENT FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING was imagined, which refers to an extremely simple, efficient and economic process, and with more productivity if compared to the usual processes employed for that purpose.

The SPINNING PROCESS FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING AND SPINNING EQUIPMENT FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING presented hereby consists of offering a can body with a smaller necking diameter and in its expansion up to the desired nominal diameter; an expansion which taking as basis a 62.4 mm diameter to form the can body, which may be expanded up to the diameter of 73 mm, which corresponds to an expansion factor in the order of approximately 16%, which corresponds to the expansion in the nominal value of approximately 10 mm regarding the initial diameter.

Among the innovating characteristics of this SPINNING PROCESS FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING AND SPINNING EQUIPMENT FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING we point out the possibility of its accomplishment in two operations, where in the first one, a pre-expansion or invitation for the final expansion shall be performed, with the resultant obtaining of the can body's flap, and with this invitation, one may obtain the suppression of employing a machine in the production line, thus reducing the space occupied by the line, the scrap rate is decreased and the productive efficiency, being then in the second operation, obtained the total expansion of the can body, considering that the accomplishment of the process in two operations prevents irregularities in the flaps dimensions, differently of what occurs in the conventional processes, which use an operation for the can body expansion, and which, therefore, create irregularities in the flaps dimensions, which makes the forming of the can bottom more difficult, and which also impair the lid tightness; moreover, in the known expansion processes, the can body expansion only occurs after the placement of the bottom, because without this stage it is impossible to achieve the expansion as a whole and without irregularities in the flap; besides, in the conventional systems, the expansion occurs in the can's central part, which assumes a concave forming; however, when transported, the expanded bodies tend to touch each other, and they may damage their lithography and in more extreme cases, they may be crushed or even break the can's body.

In the SPINNING PROCESS FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING AND SPINNING EQUIPMENT FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING proposed herein, there is no need for placing the can bottom to start its expansion, since its body is expanded from its ends, and its central part, which is under the highest pressure, is unchanged in what concerns its nominal diameter, and the final can body assumes a convex forming, so that when they are transported, they do not touch each other, and the contact area among the cans restricted solely to the top and base areas, their lithography remaining unchanged, as well as the cans bodies' structures.

Among the advantages offered by this SPINNING PROCESS FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING AND SPINNING EQUIPMENT FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING, we point out the following:

a) material economy, because it allows to start from a smaller diameter of the can body and expand it by molding the can body up to the wanted diameter, taking as a basis a can body having a 62.4 mm diameter, which may be expanded by molding up to the 73 mm diameter, which corresponds to an expansion of approximately 10 mm of initial diameter, significantly increasing the can volume.

b) reduction in the assembly line steps, because the flaps forming operation is performed in the first station along with the pre-expansion or invitation, which enables the suppression of the use of a machine in the cans assembly line.

c) Productivity increase in the assembly line, due to the decrease in the steps and to the expansion system simplification.

d) Productivity increase in the sheets varnishing and lithography line because the number of can bodies extracted from a sheet is 25% higher.

The SPINNING PROCESS FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING AND SPINNING EQUIPMENT FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING proposed herein may be adapted for any type of expansion process, and it may use an operation station which is isolated from or integrated to the conventional expansion process production line, and foresees the top and bottom flaps forming by spinning before the expansion operation, and it may be used for the most different formats and dimensions of can bodies, independently of the expansion process that shall be applied, and consists of starting with the necking diameter of the can body smaller and expand the pre-flap up to the nominal diameter, locking the can body, leaving it ready for the expansion proper, without allowing the formation of irregularities in the flaps, due to the reduction of the can body's height, consequently not allowing interference in the bottom forming, preserving the can tightness and hermetics.

Among the innovating characteristics of the SPINNING PROCESS FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING AND SPINNING EQUIPMENT FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING proposed herein for the forming by spinning of the pre-flap before the can body expansion, the fact that the process is accomplished in two operations is highlighted, where in the first pre-expansion the top and bottom pre-flaps is performed, for locking the can body, and in the second, the total expansion of the can body is made, by the expansion process selected so that, next, the flaps calibration is made, avoiding irregularities in their dimensions.

SUMMARY DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION

In order to allow the clear visualization of the differentiation among the several types of conventional processes of cans forming, regarding the SPINNING PROCESS FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING AND SPINNING EQUIPMENT FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING proposed herein, reference is made to the enclosed figures, in which the de-necking or spin-flow type process for the forming of the can body with necking of one of its ends, expanded by rulers, jaws or tongs, after the forming of the bottom, is represented by letter “A”; the die-necking or spin-flow type process to form the can body with the necking of one of its ends, expanded by rulers, jaws or tongs, with forming of the flap before the can body expansion, is represented by letter “B”; the process to form the can body expanded by rulers, jaws or tongs is represented by letter “C”; the process to form the can body expanded by rulers, jaws or tongs with forming of the pre-flap before the can body's expansion, is represented by letter “D”; the stretching type process for the forming of the can body is represented by letter “E”, and the stretching type process for the forming of the can body with forming of the pre-flap before the can body's expansion, is represented by letter “F”.

FIG. 1A—illustrates a tin sheet with labels of the bodies of cans that may be cut;

FIG. 1B—illustrates the phase of the formation of the body of the can with a diameter of 73 mm;

FIG. 1C—illustrates the phase of the formation of the narrowing of the lower edge of the body of the can, obtained through the die-necking process, where the diameter is reduced from 73 mm to 70 mm;

FIG. 1D—illustrates the phase of the formation of the lower and upper flaps;

FIG. 1E—illustrates the phase of the seaming of the bottom of the can;

FIG. 1F—illustrates the phase of the expansion of the body of the can, through its upper edge;

FIG. 2A—illustrates a tin sheet with labels of the bodies of the cans that may be cut;

FIG. 2B—illustrates the formation of the body of the can with a diameter of 73 mm;

FIG. 2C—illustrates the phase of the formation of the body of the can, where its height is reduced to 80.8 mm, and the diameter of its upper edge goes from 68 mm to 70 mm, and the diameter of its lower edge goes from 68 mm to 73 mm, and the larger expanded area goes on to have the diameter of 78.5 mm, and the center of the body of the can had a diameter of 68 mm;

FIG. 2D—illustrates the phase of the formation of the lower and upper flaps, that reduces the height of the body of the can to 78.8 mm;

FIG. 2E—illustrates the phase of the seaming of the bottom of the can, reducing its height to 78.6 mm;

FIG. 3A—illustrates the tin sheet with the markings of the can bodies that may be cut;

FIG. 3B—illustrates the formation of the body of the can with a diameter 62.4 mm and height of 109 mm;

FIG. 3C—illustrates the phase of the formation of the call on the lower edge of the body of the can, that makes its diameter go from 62.4 mm to 72 mm, and the height of the body of the can is reduced to 106.5 mm;

FIG. 3D—illustrates the phase of the expansion of the body of the can, with the reduction of its height to 97 mm, and the diameter of its upper edge remains at 62.4 mm, and the diameter of the expanded area goes on to be 73 mm;

FIG. 3E—illustrates the phase of the formation of the lower and upper flaps, with the reduction of the height of the body of the can to 95 mm;

FIG. 3F—illustrates the phase in which the body of the can is tarried;

FIG. 3G—illustrates the phase of the seaming of the bottom of the can;

FIG. 4A—illustrates a tin sheet with the markings of the can bodies that may be cut;

FIG. 4B—illustrates the formation of the body of the can with a diameter of 62.4 mm;

FIG. 4C—illustrates the phase of the pre-expansion of the upper edge of the body of the can, whose diameter goes from 70 mm to 73 mm, the rest of the diameter of the can remaining unchanged, and the lower and upper pre-flaps also being formed;

FIG. 4D—illustrates the last phase of the formation of the body of the can, from its edges, whose upper edge remains with the diameter of 73 mm, and lower edge remains with the diameter of 70 mm, and whose expanded area reaches the diameter of 85 mm;

FIG. 4E—illustrates the phase of the calibration of the flaps;

FIG. 4F—illustrates the phase of the seaming of the bottom of the body of the can;

FIG. 5A—illustrates the tin sheet with markings of the body of the cans that may be cut;

FIG. 5B—illustrates the formation of the body of the can with a diameter of 62.4 mm;

FIG. 5C—illustrates the phase of the pre-expansion of the upper edge of the body of the can, whose diameter goes from 68 mm to 70 mm, the lower edge of the body of the can, whose diameter goes from 68 mm to 73 mm, the center of body of the can remaining with the diameter of 68 mm, and reducing the height of the can to 89 mm, the upper and lower pre-flaps already being formed;

FIG. 5D—illustrates the phase of the expansion of the body of the can, where its height is reduced to 79.2 mm, the diameter of the upper edge remains at 70 mm, the lower diameter remains at 73 mm, the diameter of the greater expanded area goes on to be 78.5 mm, and the diameter of the center of the body of the can remains at 68 mm;

FIG. 5E—illustrates the phase of the calibration of the flaps, with the reduction of the height of the body of the can to 78.8 mm;

FIG. 5F—illustrates the phase of the seaming of the bottom of the can, with the reduction of its height to 78.6 mm;

FIG. 6A—illustrates the tin sheet with markings of the body of the can that may be cut;

FIG. 6B—illustrates the formation of the body of the can with the diameter of 62.4 mm and height of 109 mm;

FIG. 6C—illustrates the phase of the pre-expansion of the lower edge of the body of the can, whose diameter goes from 62.4 mm to 73 mm, the diameter of the center of the body of the can remains at 62.4 mm, and its height is reduced to 104 mm, and the formation of the upper and lower pre-flaps;

FIG. 6D—illustrates the phase of the expansion of the body of the can, that reduces its height to 96 mm, the diameter of the upper end remains at 62.4 mm, and the diameter of the expanded area goes on to be 73 mm;

FIG. 6E—illustrates the phase of the calibration of the lower and upper flaps, that reduces the height of the body of the can to 95 mm;

FIG. 6F—illustrates the phase in which the body of the can is frizzed;

FIG. 6G—illustrates the phase of the seaming of the bottom of the can;

FIG. 7—illustrates the upper view of the responsible gears that are needed for the movement of the body of the can along the formation phases;

FIG. 8—illustrates the upper view of the synchronism of the axis of the gears illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 9—illustrates a view of a detail of the conveyor auger from the first formation station;

FIG. 10—illustrates a view of the transversal cut of the body of the can at the first station of the pre-expansion;

FIG. 11—illustrates a view in which the transversal cut happens in the second phase of the pre-expansion of the body of the can;

FIG. 12—illustrates an upper view of the transversal cut of the following device of the can bodies; and

FIG. 13—illustrates a view of a longitude cut of the follower device of the body of the cans.

PREFERRED INVENTION FABRICATION

FIGS. 1A-6A, 1C-5C and 1E-7E show the stages of the usual processes already known of the state of the technique, while the FIGS. 1B-6B, 1D-6D and 1F-7F show usual processes which adopt the SPINNING PROCESS FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING AND SPINNING EQUIPMENT FOR METALLIC PACKAGES FORMING WITH PRE-FLAP FORMING proposed herein, where the savings achieved with the adoption of the process shown in FIGS. 1B-6B can be evidenced, when compared to the process shown in FIGS. 1A-6A in what concerns the utilization of the raw material, which is significant, if the absolute number of produced cans is assessed, considering that this savings is due to the dimensions of the can bodies or “pipes”, which in the process shown in FIGS. 1A-6A have a 73 mm diameter, while in the process shown in FIGS. 1B-6B, that diameter is only 70 mm.

The process shown in FIGS. 1A-6A uses an expansion system by means of jaws, rulers or tongs, where the attainment of the expanded can is performed in six operations or stages, and it is required to use a specific machine to make the two flaps, while in the process shown in FIGS. 1B-6B, using the same expansion system by means of jaws, rulers or tongs to obtain the expanded can, but adopting in the starting stage of the process for the forming of the pre-flap, by spinning before the expansion and with the calibration of the flaps, after the definitive expansion, which is also made in six stages or operations, and in that case, the equalization of the stages or operation numbers results from the fact that the process 1A-6A uses a specific machine to conform the flaps, while in process 1B-6B the flaps forming is made along with the pre-expansion and pre-flaps operation which locks the can, besides eliminating also the formation stage of the die-necking; that is, the neck forming in the can body's bottom end which is made in the third stage of the process 1A-6A (FIG. 3A).

The forming of the can body (FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E and 2F) is equal for all processes, and they are obtained through electrical welding, and after that stage, they are distinguished; that is, in process 1A-6A third stage requires the decrease of the can body's bottom diameter, in process 1B-6B, third stage, named “pre-flap”, the forming of the pre-flap occurs, by spinning, before the can body expansion, and during that stage the pre-expansion of its top end is also performed, whose diameter increases from 70 mm to 73 mm, and the making of the top and bottom pre-flaps, which lock the can body, preventing that the can height decrease occurs in an irregular form during the expansion act (FIG. 3B).

The forming of the top and bottom flaps occurs in the fourth stage of process 1A-6A, by means of a specific machine to form the said flaps (FIG. 4A), while the expansion proper of the can body occurs in the fourth stage of process 1B-6B through its ends, by conventional mandrel expansion process (FIG. 4B), whereas the can body top end diameter remains 73 mm, and the bottom diameter 70 mm, while the expanded area diameter reaches 85 mm, and in that stage, the can body's height decrease occurs equally, without irregularities which impair the flap forming and the can clamping.

The clamping of the can bottom occurs during the stage of process 1A-6A (FIG. 5A), while the flap calibration is made during the fifth stage of process 1B-6B; that is, the adjustment of the flap's measurements, (FIG. 5B), which is not foreseen in process 1A-6A.

The can body's expansion occurs in the sixth stage of process 1A-6A by the conventional mandrel expansion process, through its top end, since its bottom was already clamped (FIG. 6A), decreasing the can body's height only on one side, which creates the nuisance of scratches on the internal varnish, leaving the metal exposed, jeopardizing the quality of the product to be canned. In process 1C-5C the third stage is dedicated to the can expansion by the conventional mandrel expansion process, where its height is decreased to 80.8 mm, its top end diameter goes from 68 mm to 70 mm and its bottom end diameter increases from 68 mm to 73 mm, the largest expanded area diameter reaches 78.5 mm and the body center remains with the 68 mm diameter (FIG. 3C), considering that the can body's height decrease on both sides, occurs on an irregular basis, which impairs the future stages of flap forming and bottom clamping.

The pre-flap forming occurs in the third stage of process 1D-6D, known as “pre-flap” by spinning, before the expansion, and the can body top end pre-expansion is made in that stage, whose diameter moves from 68 mm to 70 mm, the bottom end diameter increases from 68 mm to 73 mm, and the center diameter remains at 68 mm, and the can body height is decreased to 89 mm, the bottom and top pre-flaps also being formed, which lock the can body, preventing an irregular expansion to occur with its height decrease (FIG. 3D).

The bottom and top flaps are made during the fourth stage of process 1C-5C (FIG. 4C), while the can body expansion proper occurs in the fourth stage of process 1D-6D, by means of rulers, jaws or tongs, where its height is decreased to 79.2 mm, the top end diameter remains 70 mm, the bottom end diameter remains 73mm, the largest expanded area becomes 78.5 mm, and the center diameter remains 68 mm (FIG. 4D).

The can bottom clamping occurs in the fifth stage of process 1C-6C (FIG. 5C), while the flap calibration occurs in the fifth stage of process 1D-6D (FIG. 5D); this operation is not foreseen in process 1C-6C, and finally, the can bottom clamping occurs in the sixth stage of process 1D-6D (FIG. 6D).

An invitation is formed in the can body's bottom end during the third stage of process 1E-7E, preparing for the next stage which is expansion, and in that stage, its height is decreased from 109 mm to 106.5 mm and the bottom end diameter goes from 62.4 mm to 72 mm (FIG. 3E);

The pre-flap forming by spinning occurs in the third stage of process 1F-7F, named pre-flap, before the expansion, and the bottom end pre-expansion is made in that stage, whose diameter goes from 62.4 mm to 73 mm, decreasing its height to 104 mm, being also formed the bottom and top pre-flaps which lock the can body, to prevent the expansion from occurring on an irregular form with its height decrease (FIG. 3F).

The can body's expansion proper occurs in the fourth stage of process 1E-7E, the bottom in end diameter remaining 62.4 mm, the bottom end diameter goes from 72 mm to 73 mm, and its height is decreased from 106.5 mm to 97 mm, while the height decrease on both sides occurs in an irregular form, which impairs the future stages of flap formation and bottom clamping,

The can body's expansion proper also occurs in the fourth stage of process 1F-7F, where the top end diameter remains 62.4 mm, the bottom end diameter remains 73 mm, and its height is decreased from 104 mm to 96 mm.

The top and bottom flaps are formed in the fifth stage of process 1E-7E decreasing its height from 97 mm to 95 mm.

The flap calibration occurs in the fifth stage of process 1F-7F (FIG. 5F); this operation is not foreseen in process 1E-7E;

The can body is ribbed in the sixth stage of processes 1E-7E and 1F-7F, and the can bottom clamping is made in the seventh and last stage of processes 1E-7E and 1F-7F.

After the sheets cutting and can body forming operations (1), and their longitudinal welding with necking diameter, it shall be vertically conveyed by means of conveyor roll-drives (2) to the equipment's input (3).

From this stage on, the spinning process of the can body is started (1), when the can enters the machine in the vertical position, by means of a worm conveyor system (4) which turns on a synchronized form by means of gears (5), with the input star (6) through the cardan shaft (34) and angle gear box (35) and through this synchronism, the can body (1) shall be transferred from the worm (4) to the input star (6) which shall be aligned and in the vertical position, being admitted one by one by the machine, and through this very synchronism, by means of gears (FIG. 20), the can body (1) is moved to the first station (7) with accuracy, and they both turn around their own axle in vertical position, but in opposed directions movements (FIG. 20), which allows the can body's admission in a continuing and individual form, while the invitation in the can body is made in this first station (7), that is, the body pre-expansion and the bottom and top flaps is made, while this first station (7) is synchronized, by means of gears (8) with the immediate star (9), which is intended to convey the can body with the pre-expansion for the second spinning station (10), while the transfer of the can body from the first station (7) to the second station (10) by means of the intermediate star (9) occurs in a synchronized way through the intermediate gear (11) and in the vertical position, while the intermediate star (9) has the function to transfer the can body to the second station (10), in an accurate way, but in a direction opposed to the one of the first and second stations, which enables the can body's admission in a continuous and individual form, while in the referred second station (10) the second spinning stage occurs, where the can body acquires its final form, which may vary due to the tool types used (12) and through this very type of synchronism, by means of gears (13 and 14), the already expanded can body is transferred from the second station (10) to a withdrawing conveyor belt (15), by means of an output star (16) which turns around its own axle in vertical position, but in a direction opposed to that of the second station (10), which enables the withdrawal of the can body, already formed on a continuous and individual form, transferring them to chain conveyors (17), continuing the cans manufacturing process, through successive stages.

The synchronism system used in the equipment is comprised of gears located in the lower part of each one of the corresponding shafts, and for the worm (4) corresponds the gear (5); for the input star (6) the gear (18); for the first station (7) the gear (8); for the intermediate star (9) the gear (11); for the second station (10) the gear (13) and for the output star (16) the gear (14) which are driven by means of an electric gear motor which couples the gear (19) in its shaft, transmits movements through the intermediate gears (20, 21 and 22), which are located in the bottom part of the machine base; this synchronism works immersed in an oil bath, which lubricates the whole equipment by means of an oil pump on a cyclical form.

As demonstrated, the first station (7) is accountable for the invitation forming; that is, by the can body pre-expansion and the top and bottom flaps forming, which occur by means of piston sets (23) provided with specific tools(24) for that purpose.

The internal part of the first station consists of a gear (8) located in its base, which transmits movement to a bottom round drum (25) which is mechanically coupled to the top round drum (27) by means of the coupling column (26); the bottom round drum, coupling column and the top round drum turn around a central column (28) which remains stopped and fixed to the machine base (29), while two circular cams named top came (30) and bottom came (31), mechanically fastened to the central column (28) are located inside the bottom drum (25) and top drum (27); these round cams have specific shapes in their perimeters, which enable follower rollers (32) connected by means of supports (33) to the shafts (23) are moved in each other, causing them to come closer or to become apart from each other, according to the profile determined by the cams (30 and 31), having in those shafts (23) ends specific tools (24) installed, which shall perform the flaps pre-expansion and forming during the can body turning in that station.

This whole system works as a set of pistons (23) which go up and down, and this station may have several piston sets (23), depending on the number of can bodies/hours that one wishes to produce.

The can body's expansion proper occurs in the second spinning station (10), giving it the final form, which may vary according to the tools used (12) used in the piston systems (36), and this second station has the same basic operation as the first station (7), that is, consists of a gear (13) located in its base which transmits movement to a bottom round drum (37) which is mechanically coupled, by means of a connection column (38) to the top round drum (39) while he bottom round drum, the connection column and the top round drum turn around a central column (40) which remains stopped and fixed to the machine base (29), having two circular cams mechanically fastened to the central column (40), named top cam (41) and bottom cam (42) inside the bottom drum (37) and top drum (39); such round cams have specific shapes in their perimeters which enable follower rollers (43), connected by means of supports (44) to shafts (36) move in each other, causing them to come closer or become apart, as per the profile determined by the cams, while specific tools (12) are installed on those shafts (36) ends; the tools shall perform the final expansion, that is, the final spinning which may vary as a function of the used tools (12).

The quantities of those sets simply referred to as pistons or shafts (36) may vary as a function of the desired can bodies' numbers/hour

The basic operation of the second station (10) is practically identical to that of the first station (7), but this second station is provided with a can follower device, which is intended to receive the can body from the intermediate star (9) and remove it after its course through the second station (10), placing it on the output star(16).

When the can body leaves the first station (7), is already pre-expanded and with the flaps, having a diameter and a shape type, and when this very body can leaves the second station (10) after the final spinning operation, its shape and diameter are others.

During this transfer process of the can body from one station to another, the utilization of the can follower device is essential, whose purpose is to assure a perfect stability of the cans, as to falls as well as the positioning accuracy during the spinning process, taking into account the difference between the can body's diameter at the input and the can body's diameter at the output of the second station (10).

The can follower device is fixed at the central column (10) and connection column (38) of the second station (10), which is fastened and mechanically coupled by its bore to the central column (40) which remains static and fixed to the machine base (29) during its route, while the top face of that cam (43) is provided with a specific groove (44); a follower roller (45) runs through the internal part of that groove thus describing a circular path around the central column (40) corresponding to the cam groove (44) during the machine run, and this follower roller (45) is coupled to a shaft (46), which is positioned in the radial direction of the cam; the moving of that roller in the cam groove circumference allows back and forth movements of the shaft in the radial direction of the cam, and shaft (46) is guided during its course through the hexagonal hole existing inside a round bushing (47) fastened to the coupling column (38) having a half-moon shaped part (48) fixed at the outer end of the shaft which is intended to catch the can body; the geometry of the internal part of this half-moon (48) is designed to accommodate the can body in the pre-expansion stage and after its full expansion, which in its turn, also performs back and forth movement by the action of the shaft (46), which occurs as a result of the cam (44) groove course along its extension, corresponds to the difference of the can body's diameter, allowing the claw (48) to house it, before and after the expansion, and for a better adjustment of this shaft (46) course and consequently of the claw (48) this shaft is provided, along its length, with a fine tuning system (49) comprised of a pair of symmetric threads (right/left) and a coupling nut existing in its length, which allows the millimetric approximation or separation of the half-moon (48) to/from the can body.

The quantity of that can follower device is in the same ratio as the piston systems (36) which comprise the station (10) and which by its turn, may vary as a function of the wanted quantity of can bodies/hour, which shall be previously set upon the machine construction.

One of the basic characteristics of this can follower device is that it is able to operate in any can conveyor system, not being restricted to the can expansion processes.

As a relevant characteristic, we also point out the fact that this device may be operated in any can conveyor system or machines/equipment for manufacturing cans, both in the horizontal and in the vertical position; besides, it may be used in the steel cans manufacturing processes, as well as in aluminum cans.

We point out that all sets and devices existing in this equipment may be arranged both in the vertical and in the horizontal position, which allows the whole processing of the can body, from its conveyance, to occur in the vertical or horizontal position. 

1. Pre-flap forming and spinning equipment for metallic packages, such as cans, comprising: conveyors for vertically conveying can bodies to an equipment input point; a worm conveyor system arranged at the input point, the worm conveyor being horizontally positioned and rotatable about a longitudival axis; and gears including an input star that rotates about a vertical axis, the gears turning the worm conveyor in a synchronized manner.
 2. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein each can body is moved from the worm conveyor to the input star by a synchronized system so that the can bodies are admitted one by one in an aligned vertical position.
 3. The equipment according to claim 2, and further comprising gearing for synchronously transferring the can bodies in the vertical position from the input star to a pre-flap forming station, the input star and the forming station rotating in opposite directions about vertical axes so that the can bodies are transferred continuously one by one.
 4. The equipment according to claim 3, wherein each can body is pre-expanded in the forming station, whereby the pre-flap and can body locking are made.
 5. The equipment according to claim 4, and further comprising an output star driven synchronously with the forming station for accepting the can bodies from the forming station.
 6. The equipment according to claim 5, and further comprising gearing with gears that rotate about vertical axes for synchronously transferring the can bodies from the forming station to the output star which rotates opposite to the forming station.
 7. The equipment according to claim 6, wherein the synchronized system includes gears located on a lower part of corresponding axles, wherein the worm conveyor system is related to a first gear, the input star is related with a second gear, the forming station is related to a third gear, and the output star is related to a fourth gear, and further comprising an electric gear motor for driving the gears, the gears being immersed in an oil bath, wherein an oil pump lubricates the equipment in a cyclic manner.
 8. The equipment according to claim 3, wherein the forming station includes piston sets having tools for pre-flap formation and can body locking
 9. The equipment according to claim 5, wherein the forming station has an inner part with a gear that transmits movement to a bottom circular drum that is coupled by a coupling column to a top circular drum, the top circular drum, the bottom circular drum and the coupling column being turnable about a central column that is static and fixed to a machine base.
 10. The equipment according to claim 9, and further comprising a top circular cam and a bottom circular cam respectively arranged inside the bottom drum and top drum, the cams being mechanically fastened to the coupling column, the cams having perimeters with specific shapes to permit follower rollers, which are coupled to shafts by supports, to move relative to each other whereby the follower rollers move closer together or further apart according to the shapes of the cams.
 11. The equipment according to claim 10, wherein the tools are provided in ends of the shafts that perform the pre-flap formation and can body locking during can body turning.
 12. The equipment according to claim 10, wherein the follower rollers coupled to the shafts by the supports act as a piston set the goes up and down, the number of piston sets being dependent on a desired number of can bodies per hour.
 13. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein all sets of devices can be arranged in both vertical and horizontal positions thereby enabling processing of the can body from a starting conveyance to a final conveyance in a vertical or horizontal orientation. 